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Numbers 23:8

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?

KJV

Quomodo maledicam, cui non maledixit Deus ? qua ratione detester, quem Dominus non detestatur ?

Vulgate

τί ἀράσωμαι ὃν μὴ καταρᾶται Κύριος; ἢ τί καταράσωμαι ὃν μὴ καταρᾶται ὁ θεός;

LXX

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?

ASV

מָ֣ה אֶקֹּ֔ב לֹ֥א קַבֹּ֖/ה אֵ֑ל וּ/מָ֣ה אֶזְעֹ֔ם לֹ֥א זָעַ֖ם יְהוָֽה

Hebrew

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In the original Hebrew

7 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.

אֵ֣ל
'l
noun · 244×
ה
h
verb · 9×
זָעַ֥ם
z'm
verb · 12×
יְהוָ֖ה
yhvh
proper_noun · 6455×
לֹ֣א
l'
proper_noun · 5171×
מַה
mh
particle · 745×
נִקְּב֖וּ
nqbv
verb · 23×

Historic Christian voices

2 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

Cross-references

  • Gen 27:29 — Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
  • Gen 31:55 — And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.
  • Isa 44:25 — That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
  • Isa 47:12 — Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
  • Isa 49:25 — But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save th
  • Neh 13:2 — Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
  • Num 22:12 — And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
  • Num 23:20 — Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
  • Num 23:23 — Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
  • Prov 26:2 — As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.